Wednesday 31st October 2012

Halloween. Tradition in our household  is to get Burkie out of work as quickly as we possibly can, and to hot foot it to the nearest hostelry that may be potentially free of out little ankle biting friends! Tonight was a huge success, and we departed for Ye Olde Number 3 in Lymm. with a nano second to spare! We were even within earshot of the immortal words " Where shall we go next?"....."Not my house" was indeed, the correct answer!

Tuesday 30th October 2012

Up at the crack of dawn, to have a morning meeting over in Blackburn with the solicitors handling the acquisition of our Sandbach site. The contracts are all now in place and we should be the proud owners of another bit of "dirt!" within 3 weeks! Went to have a look at our Tesco site in Blackburn whilst in the locality, and David Wilson have started their build now, so full steam ahead on that project too!

Monday 29th October 2012

Sad day. Went to see Curly`s Mum laid to rest at the Church in Weaverham. It was a lovely service and both Curly and Lucy did their Mum so proud. Ann had a lot thrown at her over the years but remained a stoic and determined Mother until the very end. R.I.P.

Sunday 28th October 2012

Wet, miserable day and the headache has reared it`s horrible little head again! 5 days now............getting a bit bored of it! Decided to head out and have a lazy breakfast seeing as we didn`t take advantage of the extra hour in bed. Went to Aiden Byrne`s restaurant in Lymm, and I have to say that the food was superb. If  a trifle generous in the portioning! Next time I`ll stick to a kiddies meal :)

Saturday 27th October 2012

Felt a bit better today so arranged to meet Donna and Dave at Dunham Massey. Was a lovely day.....blue skies, but bitingly cold. Had a lovely walk round the gardens before going for an early tea at The Swan With Two Nicks. Very chilled out day.

Friday 26th October 2012

Poorly sick again today. Still got a headache which has since been accompanied by an overnight appointment with the bathroom! Feel really horrible ~ worst part is the cramps in my feet from dehydration! Touch wood I`ll be better tomorrow, as not used to feeling ill these days :(

Thursday 25th October 2012

6 years ago today, I lost one of my favourite people to ever walk this earth. Nana and I had the most amazing relationship ~ partly due to the fact that we are both adopted, but mostly due to the fact we shared so many hobbies and interests. Her memory is forever laid in stone at our hallowed Villa Park and I will miss her every day until I see her again.x

Wednesday 24th October 2012

Don`t seem to have sat down today between doing the household chores, taking Fran for a heart scan and helping my Stepdad organise the most wonderful surprise for my Mother`s 70th Birthday next year. Managed to get out for a walk just before it got dark, then set about making one of my favourite teas........Smoked haddock fishcakes with veg. Yummy :)

Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Total and utter wash out of a day for me. Got the mother of all headaches....you know the ones, they are like the hob nobs of headaches.....nothing can break them, and after a while they just make you feel sick! Popped some pills, but accepted that it is in for the duration, so taking myself off to man up!

Monday 22nd October 2012

Woke up to a day of complete and utter contrast to yesterday! Grey with drizzle laden skies and the promise that Winter is now beginning to awaken from it`s slumber. If nothing else the weather gave me an opportunity to give my car a little TLC and get some new tyres for her,as opposed to the slicks I`ve been making her run all Summer! MOT booked in for tomorrow, so all being well, my little baby should pass her test now!

Sunday 21st October 2012

Amazing day! Went for a trek up Helm Crag in Cumbria, starting from Grasmere and taking in 3 Wainwrights in our process ~ Helm Crag, Gibson Knott and Calf Crag. Weather was the most perect blue skied, Autumnal day you could ever be blessed to see in the Lake District. 8.5 miles in 5 hours 21 minutes. Absolutely shattered now!

Saturday 20th October 2012

Managed to sell a load of parquet flooring today, so spent a lot of time over in dust filled Cheadle! Not long now till the Vets start their fit out :) Villa lost AGAIN today, away at Fulham...getting really frustrating now! Whiled away the rest of the day making leek, pea and potato soup and my favourite Italain dish, Chicken and Asparagus Ametricana. You can`t beat the hit of a chilli :)

Friday 19th October 2012

Took the afternoon off  today to go and see our mate Fran in Warrington Hospital. Touch wood, he will be coming home tonight, after a month of blood clots on the lungs, pneumonia and cellulitis. For a big man, he hasn`t half spent the last 4 weeks attention seeking! Will be glad when he`s well enough to pop in for a brew every Monday......... Just try and stay out of the Emergency Unit this time Smithy!

Thursday 18th October 2012

Day started well with clarification that we "could" be selling our Vets 4 Pets in Cheadle by the end of the month. Nothing like some good news to put a spring in your step! Rich starting back at football tonight, so I donned my walking shoes and went for a brisk yomp up to the Farm Shop to raid them of all their seasonal goodies! I think this marks the start of  "Soup Season!"

Wednesday 17th October 2012

So there I was, looking forward to watching Emmerdale celebrate their 40th Anniversary with a live show. Instead I`ve got the postponed Poland v England World Cup Qualifier......and the company of a Bear! Can`t really complain. Pizza, wine and football..........Emmerdale will have to wait till tomorrow!

Tuesday 16th October 2012

I love this time of year ~ the changing colours, the smell of wood smoke lingering in the air, the hive of activity as wildlife begins its preparations for a long, cold Winter ahead. This tree was green on Friday, so the cold temperatures of the weekend have sealed the fate of the Summer leaves. Another day, another season. 

Monday 15th October 2012

Went out for a lovely walk this evening once the dreary, miserable weather stopped....! Worked up an appetite and decided to go to Pastiche in Knutsford for tea......closed for refurb!! Quick turn round of the car and off to Lymm . A "Flavours" Speecial. Yummety Yum!

Sunday 14th October 2012 ~ SPECIAL

Just watched Felix Baumgartner freefall LIVE from the edge of space..........24 miles up from earth! He accelerated at speeds of over 720 mph in a 3 minute freefall before opening his parachute and gliding down to the desert floor of New Mexico. I have never felt so sick in my entire life watching that ~ just hoping that he wasn`t going to lose his life in the pursuit of adrenaline fuelled records. Balls of absolute steel.

Sunday October 14th 2012

Lovely, crisp Autumnal day today. Rich is just shaking off the last vestiges of "man flu" so taking the opportunity to have a wonderfully, lazy Sunday afternoon. Exercised my little socks off earlier to a bit of house music.....then got down to the serious business of disguising a pesky bit of salmon for him who hates it!  Found the below in Packington Moor Farm Shop and stir fried with cabbage ,peas, beans, garlic and soy sauce, it makes a perfect side dish to Miso Salmon. Yum.

Saturday October 13th 3012

Spent most of today in my jim jams as the weather has been so bad! Great excuse to catch up with all the shows I have on planner though and do a bit of cooking for the freezer whilst I'm at it! Sun finally poked out at 5 pm so we went for a 2 mile yomp to examine the water damage!!

Friday October 12th 2012

Went round to see our mate Big Fran today, as he is finally out of hospital after recovering from blood clots on the lungs and pneumonia. Was good to see him looking so well!! Got back and the weather was thoroughly pleasant. After all the rain we`ve had it presented the perfect opportunity to go and jump in some puddles with my new wellies that I won from Hunter :)

Thursday October 11th 2012

What a completely, totally and utterly miserable day! It`s not stopped bestowing us with Mancunian drizzle since 9.00 this morning. Add the indignity of the flu jab into the mix and there was only one thing for it......Homemade Chicken and Veg Casserole. The house smells yummy, my tummy is happy, and I`ve just been wrapped in a Culinary Hug from Mum.